The AIG Women’s Open, the fifth Major of the year, is set to kick off at the Old Course, St Andrews later this week. The final chance to earn a place in the field came in the form of final qualifying, which took place at Crail Golfing Society in Fife. A total of 92 players competed for 12 spots in challenging windy conditions. Among the successful qualifiers was Weiwei Zhang, a five-time China LPGA Tour winner, who topped the leaderboard with a five-under 67 to secure her first appearance at a Major.
French pro Emma Grechi and English LET pro Annabell Fuller also earned their spots at the AIG Women’s Open with strong performances at the final qualifying event. South African Casandra Alexander, American Kristen Gillman, and four other players finished with scores of two-under to secure their places in the tournament. Lauren Hartlage, who achieved a T5 finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, will be making her debut appearance at the AIG Women’s Open alongside these players.
Noora Komulainen of Finland and German Patricia Schmidt also qualified for the tournament, with the former making her fourth appearance and the latter earning her second Major appearance. South African veteran Lee-Anne Pace, with 23 professional career wins, also qualified after completing a round of 70. Additionally, 12 players finished on one-under to head into a playoff to determine the final three places, with Stephanie Meadow, Caroline Hedwall, and Jodi Ewart Shadoff among the contenders.
Ultimately, Meadow and Ursula Wikstrom emerged victorious in the playoff, securing their spots in the AIG Women’s Open field. Meadow, from Northern Ireland, achieved her best finish at the tournament in 2020, while Finnish golfer Wikstrom will be looking to improve on her previous best finish of T46, which came in 2009. Overall, the final qualifying event at Crail Golfing Society saw a mix of experienced professionals and rising stars earn their places in the prestigious Major tournament.
The AIG Women’s Open promises to showcase top talent from around the world, with players like Weiwei Zhang and Emma Grechi eager to make their mark on the Major stage. The competition at the Old Course, St Andrews is expected to be fierce, as players battle challenging conditions and tough pin positions. With a diverse field of players from various tours and backgrounds, the tournament is set to provide exciting and competitive golf for fans and spectators alike.
Stay tuned for updates and coverage of the AIG Women’s Open by subscribing to the Golf Monthly newsletter. Follow along as the qualifiers from final qualifying, including Lauren Hartlage, Noora Komulainen, and Jodi Ewart Shadoff, compete against the top players in women’s golf. With a mix of seasoned professionals and up-and-coming talents, the tournament is poised to deliver thrilling moments and highlight the skill and dedication of the competitors vying for Major glory at St Andrews.
